Seesaw Daily Calendar

 So with the crazy world of eLearning, Virtual Teaching, Hybrid Classrooms, and Social Distancing we've all had to change the way we teach. It's been frustrating, it's been time consuming, and it's been a time of learning for us all. 

I absolutely love Seesaw and I am an ambassador. I've been using it for a few years now and each year (or every few months now) they've pushed out phenomenal updates! 

My school has purchased Seesaw for Schools and our K-2 teachers are using it in class and remotely. 

Since I can no longer gather with my kiddos on the carpet and do instruction, read alouds, or calendar I've had to become creative.

The first thing I've made are Daily Calendar activities for each month. 

Click the image to see it on TpT

Happy August

Today is August 1st. If you're like me you have about two weeks until returning to school. Not that we haven't been in and out of our rooms all summer but that was when it was quiet. In just a few days our organized, decorated, thoughtful rooms will be overflowing with inquisitive little hands and feet.

First grade is such a year of growth. Now I know students grow each year and I may be bias but I feel it's a growth so vast that some seem like brand new kiddos. I've made a mini-packet to help me keep samples of how far their writing and drawing has really come. I do journals yearly but I thought it'd be neat to see the samples side by side. I've also created a page where the kids will write their name each month so you can see how much this changes. I'm hoping to keep these samples safe all year and make something neat to send home to the parents in May. Please check it out at my TpT store.

There is a First Grade version and a general version.

Nonsense Word Fluency (NWF) Packet

Though I am weeks away from doing those awful  lovely standardized assessments with my firsties I thought I'd be proactive and be prepared. One thing that we test for at the beginning of the year is Nonsense Word Fluency. Basically the kids read CVC words that are make-believe. They get a point for each correct sound and are scored on how many they actually read as words, too. We do this test (among with others) three times a year and the benchmarks increase each time. The first time I try not to practice any of the skills so the scores I receive really reflect their level upon entering first grade.

Once assessment time is over I look at the data and go from there. So, I've created 3 NWF games for my kiddos to practice during center time. Some practice reading the words and one of them is set to practice at differentiating between real and nonsense words.

BTW It is way harder making up nonsense words than you think! haha.

 
 Check it out in my TpT store.

 X'ed

How to play:

(2-4 players)

Each player will choose a card. The player will need to read the

nonsense word correctly. If s/he reads it correctly they get to keep the card. If it is read incorrectly it goes back into the pile. If a

student draws an ‘X’ card then they lose all of their cards. Whoever has the most cards at the end of the game is the winner.

Variation:

· When an ‘X’ is draw students lose all of their card but the cards may be put back into the draw pile

· When an ‘X’ is drawn it may be set aside or returned to the draw pile for prolonged play

Sample of Nonsense Words

Real or Make-Believe

How to play:

(1-2 players)

Roll dice and write the word on the recording sheet under the

correct heading.

When playing a 2 player game players (or teacher) may decide if the winner has made the most make-believe words or real words.

Recording Sheet for Game

Trash Digging for Nonsense

How to play:

(1-2 players)

Players take turns picking a piece of ‘trash’ from the trashcan.

The player must correctly read the CVC word and identify it as real or nonsense (make-believe) and place it on their mat.

The player with the most nonsense words at the end of the game is the winner.

Beware...if you draw the trashcan card you LOSE all of your

nonsense words!!!

 Tip: You may want to crumple the words to make them look like real trash!

Card Sorting Mat